Boot-drying rack

ABSTRACT

A boot-drying rack having a base frame and removable upright supports for supporting boots in an inverted position over the base frame. The rack can be set over or near a hot air register so that heated air can circulate drying particularly the inside of the boots. Packs flat for packaging, and storage when not in use.

United States Patent [7 21 Inventor Sally-Rae Andersen 45152 Wells Road, Sardis, British Columbia, Canada [21] Appl. No. 40,673 [22] Filed May 26, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [54] BOOT-DRYING RACK 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 211/38 [51] Int. Cl A4717/08 [50] Field of Search 211/38,34, 37; 12/123 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,312 2/1891 Wikle 12/123 11/1901 Mansfieldml 211/37 X 10/1908 Mayer 211/37 9/1918 Summerfield 211/37 2/1923 O'Neill 211/34 X 11/1954 Cohen... 211/38 6/1961 Auer 211/34 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1922 Germany 211/37 Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr, Attorney- Lyle G. Trorcy ABSTRACT: A boot-drying rack having a base frame and removable upright supports for supporting boots in an inverted position over the base frame. The rack can be set over or near a hot air register so that heated air can circulate drying particularly the inside of the boots. Packs flat for packaging, and storage when not in use.

BOOT-DRYING RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to boot-drying apparatus and in particular to a rack for supporting boots to be dried in an inverted position.

2. Prior Art Drying of boots and shoes, especially childrens boots and shoes, as well known to most families, presents problems. In order to dry boots properly and quickly they are placed in an inverted position so that water will drain off the outside, and provision should be made for air to circulate inside the boots.

Most boots are unstable when placed in an inverted position on their uppers, and accordingly tend tol fall sideways. This results in water being trapped in the boo consequently drying time is inordinately extended. In view of the frequency with which children's boots are wetted it is usually found that the boots are not quite dry when required to be worn. This is likely to cause damage to leather and rubber boots, and can constitute a health hazard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a boot-drying rack for supporting boots, neatly, in inverted positions so as to attain good drainage.

The boot-drying rack of the present invention includes a base frame having upright standards connected thereto, each standard adapted to extend into a boot, each standard having a lateral extension at an upper end on which an arch of a boot rests, the lateral extensions sloping upwards from the standards so that soles of the boots are disposed substantially horizontally.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I. is an isometric view of a boot-drying rack of the invention,

FIG. 2. is a side elevation of a portion of the rack showing a boot being dried.

A detail description following, related to drawings, gives exemplification of preferred embodiment of the invention which, however, is capable of expression in structure other than that particularly described and illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1

FIG. 1 illustrates a boot-drying rack having a base frame 11 and upright standards 12 inserted in socket members 13 of the base frame. The base frame is generally rectangular having a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending rods 14 connected by a pair of transverse rods 15 welded to the rods 14 which are, typically, 12 to 14 inches in length and are spaced by about six inches, the transverse rods being spaced about eight inches. Both pair of rods are, typically, one-quarter inch in diameter. The base frame, it is seen, is relatively wide so as to provide stability.

The socket members 13 are short lengths of metal pipe each being welded in an upright position to, and centrally of, a transverse rod. The standards 12 are lengths of rod, typically l inches in length, visibly longer than boots to be dried, and having a slidable and rotatable fit in the socket members. Upper end portions of the standards are bent into loops 17, the loops being bent laterally away from the standards thus forming lateral extensions, the length of the loops measured from standard to loop tip being, typically three inches and the width of the loops being, typically three inches and the width of the loops being, typically two inches. The loops extend at an angle A suitably between and from the standards so that with the standards set in the sockets the loops slope upwards between 5 and 10 from the horizontal.

A boot 18 having a sole 18.], an arch 18.2, a heel 18.3 and an upper 18.4 is shown on a standard 12, the loop 17 being positioned directly beneath the arch 18.2 and extending towards a toe of boot. As is common considering the boot to be in an upright position, an arch slopes upwards from the soleat an angle between .5" and 10. Thus the boot, with the arch resting upon the loop, assumes a position in which the sole of the boot is essentially horizontal so that the upper depends generally vertically. It isapparent that any free water in the boot will drain.

As the standards are approximately 8 inches apart a space of a few inches is provided between boots, so adjacent outer surfaces of the boot uppers do not touch.

OPERATION Boots to be dried when positioned on the rack, as above described, can be left to dry in any warm, dry room. The rack can also be placed over a hot air register or on top of a hot water radiator to shorten drying time. The base frame, being open, permits hot air from the register or radiator to flow upwards into the boots.

It is seen that the rotatable fit of the standards in the socket members permit the boots to be adjusted to a favorable drying position. Where boots to be dried are hip boots, standards of longer length can be used so that the uppers of the boots are held clear of the base frame.

Construction of the boot rack, as above, facilitates storage and packaging. The standards can be slipped out of the socket members and laid flat on, and secured to, the base frame thus making a neat bundle which does not take up much storage space and which can be enclosed in a container of reasonably small size.

Although the loops rack 10 is particularly suited for drying boots it can be used for drying articles such as gloves or mittens, the latter being pulled on over the loops so that linings of the gloves or mittens are slightly stretched so as to expedite drying and minimize shrinkage.

I claim:

I. A boot-drying rack including:

a. a wide base frame having spaced interconnected longitudinal and transverse rods,

b. an upright socket member connected to and located centrally of each of the transverse rods,

c. an upright standard having a slidable and rotatable fit in each of the socket members, each standard being adapted to extend into a boot for holding the latter in an inverted position clear of the base frame,

d. a lateral extension at an upper end of each of the standards, each lateral extension being adapted to accept an arch of the boot resting upon it and sloping upwards from the standard so that a sole of the boot is essentially horizontal.

2. A boot-drying rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lateral extensions slope upwards from the standards between 5 and 10 to the horizontal.

3. A boot-drying rack as claimed in claim I wherein each lateral extension is an upper portion of the standard bent back upon itself to form a loop. 

1. A boot-drying rack including: a. a wide base frame having spaced interconnected longitudinal and transverse rods, b. an upright socket member connected to and located centrally of each of the transverse rods, c. an upright standard having a slidable and rotatable fit in each of the socket members, each standard being adapted to extend into a boot for holding the latter in an inverted position clear of the base frame, d. a lateral extension at an upper end of each of the standards, each lateral extension being adapted to accept an arch of the boot resting upon it and sloping upwards from the standard so that a sole of the boot is essentially horizontal.
 2. A boot-drying rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lateral extensions slope upwards from the standards between 5* and 10* to the horizontal.
 3. A boot-drying rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each lateral extension is an upper portion of the standard bent back upon itself to form a loop. 